Full listings are below, along with news, sector jobs and volunteering opportunities. Have a great May.

All best, Angus

Angus MacKechnie Executive Director │ISAN

Image: Hastings Jack in the Green 2017, Catherine Packard

The ISAN Outdoor Arts Conference 2017 Save the Date: 29 & 30 November

We are pleased to announce that ISAN will be holding the National Outdoor Arts Conference 2017 at the end of November in Milton Keynes.

Working in partnership with Festive Road, The Stables, DestinationMK and with the generous support of Milton Keynes Council, we look forward to two fruitful days of discussions, ideas, networking and planning, celebrating all things Outdoor Arts, whilst the new town of concrete cows celebrates its fiftieth birthday.

More details to follow; we'll put tickets on sale to ISAN Members in June, but get the dates in your diaries now.

Bernie Bennett Celebration

13 May

Many of you will have heard the sad news of the recent unexpected death of the tightrope performer and all-round trooper of the Outdoor Arts world, superhero Bernie Bennett – pictured above doing what he did best.

David Danzig writes: Friends of Bernie Bennett, this is to let you know that a memorial/celebration of our very own superman will take place at 13 May at 3pm at the 3-in-1 Centre in Horsley, Gloucestershire. The centre was the old St Martin's church that is now converted into a community arts centre; the celebration will begin in the Centre and move to a marquee (or two) outdoors.

Feel free to reply to David via his Facebook post if you are planning to go, to give some idea of the numbers expected.

Seminar for UK Outdoor Arts: Show Pricing / International Touring

XTRAX and ISAN are joining forces to run two FREE events aimed at UK Outdoor Arts companies looking to take their work on the road. ISAN will present the event in London and XTRAX will present it in Manchester. The event is repeated, though speakers may vary.

Artists will learn from a panel of specialists about how to balance the books, price work correctly, and keep costs down, with a view to touring a show which is cost-effective to have on the road, and financially viable for promoters to book. Those ready to take work beyond the UK can get information about the international market and an insight into the context of festivals in Europe.

Running order for both events:

Emerging companies will discover top tips on how to keep costs down and correctly price outdoor work from a panel of sector professionals. Our guests will give an overview of the do's and don’ts of pricing outdoor arts, what to include in a touring budget, how best to manage on-costs, and how to make sure you don't lose money on touring – ensuring you are able to pay yourself and the people you work with correctly. The panellist will also give advice on how to increase the value of your work through audiences outreach and public engagement schemes and how to make your show sustainable for long-term touring.

Session 2: 18:00-19:30 Touring in Europe and the context of key international festivals

Established companies can learn from some of the most experienced companies about the best ways of preparing your work for international markets that goes beyond language translation. They’ll be joined by international promoters who’ll tell us what they are looking for, how UK companies can make their shows work in international contexts, signpost some of the most useful networking events and meeting places across Europe, and, vitally, how artists can get themselves and their work noticed.

Speakers and Chairs to be announced.

This seminar is part of Platform 4:UK, a programme supported by Arts Council England and delivered by XTRAX, that is designed to support the international promotion and export of UK street arts, and presented with ISAN, the national membership and strategic organisation that aims to bring together the many diverse parts of the Outdoor Arts sector.

As well as being part of a large network of fellow-Outdoor Arts practitioners, ISAN members have access to ISAN events across the country, advice, guidance and reductions for training from ITC. Our rates are designed to be as inclusive as possible, including a one-year trial rate of just £20.

Fresh Street #2 Conference, Portugal 24-26 May 2017

Registration deadline: 10 May

After the first edition of Fresh Street in 2015, attended by more than 300 professionals from 30 different countries, the International Seminar for the Development of Street Arts is back in 2017 to examine fresh perspectives, establish new contacts and celebrate international Outdoor Arts.

Organised by the Circostrada Network and Artcena, in partnership with the Imaginarius Festival in Santa Maria da Feira, the second edition will bring together street arts practitioners, artists, programmers, journalists, researchers and policy makers for three days of stimulating exchanges, insightful debates and valuable networking.

XTRAX Shorts at GDIF: artist & company call out

XTRAX are looking for artists and companies to give creative presentations about new outdoor projects in development to an audience of UK and international festival and event representatives, producers, and Outdoor Arts professionals at their Greenwich+Docklands International Festival showcase in June.

Projects should ideally be new shows in development, provided they have a clear development schedule and must be ready for touring in 2018. Presentations should be given in English, but utilise strong visual aids or a Powerpoint presentation.

Projects can be of any scale. Whilst XTRAX welcomes proposals for large-scale projects, many of the bookers will be looking primarily for small and medium scale work. They are particularly encouraging applications which can clearly demonstrate a project’s suitability for international touring.

If you're an ISAN Member, you qualify for REDUCED RATES Details of how to access the discount are in the ISAN Members Bulletin.FULL ITC TRAINING SCHEDULE

Outdoor Arts Listings

This list includes festivals, events, performances and programmes which have some element of Outdoor Arts; it also includes conferences, meetings and professional development events, plus the occasional indoor or non-sector event which relates to artists or other parts of the Outdoor Arts sector.

ISAN is the trading name of the Independent Street Arts Network. Company Number: 04316026.

ISAN is not responsible for the contents, nor does it warrant the accuracy or reliability of, any linked website. ISAN, to the extent permissible by law, excludes all liability which may arise from your use or reliance on the information or contents contained in the linked site.